Trump Suggests He Won’t Participate in Debates Organized by the Commission on Presidential Debates

During a Twitter storm on Monday morning following the release of the House report on impeachment, President Donald Trump lashed out at the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) and strongly suggested he wouldn’t take part in debates in 2020 if they’re organized by the CPD.

“I look very much forward to debating whoever the lucky person is who stumbles across the finish line in the little watched Do Nothing Democrat Debates,” Trump said. “My record is so good on the Economy and all else, including debating, that perhaps I would consider more than 3 debates.”

“The problem is that the so-called Commission on Presidential Debates is stacked with Trump Haters & Never Trumpers. 3 years ago they were forced to publicly apologize for modulating my microphone in the first debate against Crooked Hillary,” Trump said.

….The problem is that the so-called Commission on Presidential Debates is stacked with Trump Haters & Never Trumpers. 3 years ago they were forced to publicly apologize for modulating my microphone in the first debate against Crooked Hillary. As President, the debates are up…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2019

This claim is false. The CPD did not apologize over a microphone error in 2016, nor is there any evidence that is anything other than an accident.

This is a lie. There was an issue with Trump's mic during one of the 2016 debates but the commission never "publicly apologized" https://t.co/500wUvSkZz https://t.co/uivfSTjmW1

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 16, 2019

“As President, the debates are up to me, and there are many options, including doing them directly & avoiding the nasty politics of this very biased Commission,” Trump went on. “I will make a decision at an appropriate time but in the meantime, the Commission on Presidential Debates is NOT authorized to speak for me (or R’s)!”

The Commission on Presidential Debates is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) corporation founded by both parties in 1987. The CPD has sponsored all presidential debates since 1988.